Experts are calling for greater transparency in a multi-million dollar government employment scheme targeting Bangladesh’s poorest.
Most of the beneficiaries are seasonal farm labourers who are unemployed from September to November after planting the “Aman” crop, one of the most important rice harvests of the year, as well as the “Boro” crop, from March to April.
“The government seems to be earnest in implementing this programme, but the reality on the ground is very difficult,” Atiur Rahman, chairman of Shomunnoy, an economic think-tank, told IRIN in Dhaka, citing concerns over inefficiency and corruption.
Challenges include targeting and selection of beneficiaries, timely implementation, overlapping with existing social safety net programmes, setting appropriate wage rates, creating assets, monitoring, as well as capacity-building, he said.
Rahman is not alone in his concern.
Although Mohammad Asaduzzaman, research director of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, welcomed the project, citing its successful implementation in India, he too worries about its planning and implementation.
“The government needs to remain extra cautious to make sure that corruption does not creep in to such a noble initiative,” he said.
 We
hope the government and the donors will take special care and
supervision to make sure the money goes to those who really need it. |
“We hope the government and the donors will take special care and supervision to make sure the money goes to those who really need it,” said Mohiuddin Ahmad Bulbul, a senior NGO activist.
The 100-day programme
Close to two million people across Bangladesh signed up for the 100-day employment-generation programme, the first of its kind. It is just one of the government’s many safety-net programmes aimed at 57.5 million beneficiaries nationwide.
Participants are provided jobs over a five-month period, including earthworks such as dam and embankment repair, community construction projects, road repair, pond cleaning, etc.
The first phase of the scheme will end on 30 November 2008, with the second phase scheduled to start in March 2009, explained Molla Wahiduzzaman, secretary of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management.
One person out of a family of five (the average size) will receive US$1.50 per working day, provided they fulfil the criteria.
In addition, regardless of whether work is available or not, those registered as destitute between the ages of 18 and 50 will receive $0.58 per day for the first 30 days and $0.73 for the following days, but not exceeding 100 days, Wahiduzzaman said.
 Photo: Shamsuddin Ahmed/IRIN  |
| Labourers digging a canal in northern Lalmonirhat District |
Only the hardcore poor who are affected by floods, droughts and other natural calamities are eligible. Included are landless households, the homeless, the primary earner being a day labourer, or those owning less than half a hectare of agricultural land or residing in rented premises of less than 200 sqft.
Those without any fixed income, female or disabled-headed households, as well as those older than 65, also qualify.
Of the $295 million earmarked for the project this year, $2.95 million is being disbursed each day.
North-western Rajshahi and south-central Barisal divisions, which are badly affected by floods each year, take priority.
Monitoring
“The local administration would run the programme under different projects and local NGOs would be involved to monitor the works and money distribution,” said AMM Shawkat Ali, an adviser to the Ministry of Food.
According to Mohammad Abdul Wazed, project director of the 100-day programme, three NGOs - Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation, Save the Children and CARE - will be involved and would recommend the names of local NGOs to implement the programme at grassroots level.
Recipients will be selected through open meetings with representatives of local government bodies and NGOs, Wazed explained.
The existing sub-district disaster management committee will conduct the programme while the government will centrally monitor its implementations and outcomes each month.
A central steering committee, headed by the food and disaster management secretary, has been formed to oversee the overall activities of the 100-day programme.
The government has requested the UN Food and Agriculture Organization to compile an appraisal of the employment scheme once it is completed.
According to the latest development indicators by the World Bank, approximately 82.2 percent of the population lives on less than $2 per day, while 36 percent survives on less than $1.
Government estimates suggest there are 40 million extreme poor.
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